Cannabis Advisory Committee

On October 4, 2017, the Department of Consumer Affairs announced the members of the state’s new Cannabis Advisory Committee under the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC).

The committee advises the BCC and the other licensing authorities – the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Public Health – on the development of regulations that help protect public health and safety and reduce the illegal market for cannabis.

Per Business and Professions Code Section 26014:

(a) The bureau shall convene an advisory committee to advise the licensing authorities on the development of standards and regulations pursuant to this division, including best practices and guidelines that protect public health and safety while ensuring a regulated environment for commercial cannabis activity that does not impose such barriers so as to perpetuate, rather than reduce and eliminate, the illicit market for cannabis.

(b) The advisory committee members shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of the cannabis industry, including medicinal cannabis, representatives of labor organizations, appropriate state and local agencies, persons who work directly with racially, ethnically, and economically diverse populations, public health experts, and other subject matter experts, including representatives from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, with expertise in regulating commercial activity for adult-use intoxicating substances. The advisory committee members shall be determined by the director.

(c) Commencing on January 1, 2019, the advisory committee shall publish an annual public report describing its activities including, but not limited to, the recommendations the advisory committee made to the licensing authorities during the immediately preceding calendar year and whether those recommendations were implemented by the licensing authorities.

Committee members serve at the pleasure of the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Members are not paid, but are reimbursed for any necessary travel to approved advisory committee meetings.